A Maltese investigative journalist who exposed the island nation's links to offshore tax havens through the leaked Panama Papers was killed Monday when a bomb exploded in her car, the prime minister said.

A Maltese investigative journalist who exposed the island nation's links to offshore tax havens through the leaked Panama Papers was killed Monday when a bomb exploded in her car, the prime minister said.

Alec Baldwin has reprised in his role as Donald Trump for the latest episode of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, identifying the US president as the true martyr of the tragic Charlottesville rally.

When a fairly innocuous question about autopsy results in passports being confiscated and extra police being assigned to your hotel, you can’t help but wonder what the hell is going to happen, reporter Pete Stefanovic tells.

Appeal for Perth-born man in Saudi jail

An Australian citizen jailed in Saudi Arabia on terrorism charges is pushing ahead with an appeal, which is being prepared remotely by his exiled lawyer.

Shayden Thorne, 25, was last month sentenced to four and a half years' jail for supporting and encouraging terrorism after he was found with a laptop containing incriminating material.

Thorne is being represented by lawyer Abdal Jalil Al-Khalidy, who fled Saudi Arabia after authorities issued an arrest warrant for him, forcing him to send a colleague to act on his behalf at the sentencing.

Mr Jalil said he was drafting an appeal and would see the matter through to the end.

He said he strongly believed in the innocence of his client, who claimed he was tortured into confessing.

"I will complete what I have started in defending Shayden and his case, because of my sincere belief that he is innocent," Mr Jalil told AAP.

"I will give him all the support he needs until this story ends - God willing - with a happy ending for Shayden, his family, and me."

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Mr Jalil fears if he returns to Saudi Arabia, he will face the same Intelligence Police who allegedly tortured Thorne.

"It is very likely that I would be handed over to the Intelligence Police where I would most likely be charged with `talking bad about the Kingdom and its government', along with a number of other charges that could easily be fabricated just in order to keep me locked up and quiet for a long period of time.

"The charge of `discrediting Saudi Arabia or its government' has no sentence limit, and I could also be charged with supporting terrorism and terrorists in the Kingdom."

Shayden's brother Junaid, 23, also fears what will happen to him if he faces authorities in Saudi Arabia, where he is in hiding.

He is wanted for questioning after having previously been detained for protesting his brother's imprisonment.

Mr Jalil said efforts were underway to reunite Junaid with his family in Perth.

The lawyer said he had written to Saudi police, asking them to return Junaid's passport and allow him to leave the country, which they had agreed to.

The brothers' aunt, Stephanie Riley, said Shayden had been in contact and said he wanted Junaid to leave the country immediately.

"He was very concerned and distressed about Junaid still being in Saudi Arabia," Ms Riley told AAP.

The Thornes moved from Perth to Saudi Arabia in 1996 with their mother after she separated from the brothers' father. They have not lived in Australia since, although their mother has since returned to Perth.